The Gaia Hotel Bandung becomes Indonesia’s first independent hotel to receive Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) certification, reinforcing its long-term commitment to responsible operations, community impact, and environmental stewardship.
The Gaia Hotel Bandung has reached an important milestone as it celebrates another year of operations, officially earning certification from the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). This achievement positions the property as the first independent hotel in Indonesia to receive this global recognition.
The certification process was conducted through TÜV Rheinland and Control Union Indonesia, assessing the hotel across four pillars: sustainability management, socio-economic impact, cultural preservation, and environmental protection. The recognition affirms the hotel’s efforts to integrate sustainability into its daily operations and long-term strategy.
General Manager of The Gaia Hotel Bandung Novi Samodro expressed pride in the achievement, noting that the certification process offered valuable insights for future improvements. The hotel’s name, Gaia, derived from the Greek term for Mother Nature, reflects its core belief that hospitality businesses should contribute positively to environmental wellbeing. This principle has shaped the hotel’s approach since its inception, influencing design choices, operational systems, and community engagement.
Sustainability is embedded in the property’s structure and practices. The open-air design, combined with full-length windows and balconies in every room, maximises natural light and airflow, reducing reliance on artificial cooling and lighting. In its second year, the hotel replaced single-use plastic bottled water with reusable glass bottles, cutting approximately 240,000 plastic bottles annually.
Food waste management is a priority, with the hotel investing in equipment to recycle and repurpose around 240kgs of organic waste each day. This waste is processed into eco-enzymes and supports an on-site organic garden that supplies ingredients for its restaurants. In a recent initiative celebrating its third anniversary, the hotel logged 11 million walking steps to contribute 333 trees to be planted as part of its environmental efforts.
Novi emphasised that the GSTC certification marks the beginning of a longer journey rather than a final goal. The Gaia Hotel Bandung remains committed to continuous improvement, collaboration, and promoting responsible growth within the industry.
The Gaia Hotel Bandung
Jalan Dr. Setiabudi No. 430, Ledeng, Cidadap
Bandung 40143, Indonesia
T: (+62) 2220280780
E: reservation@thegaiabandung.com
W: thegaiabandung.com
IG: @thegaiabandung
